How to Get a Copy of a Police Report for Your Car Accident

A police report can be one of the first documents an insurance company asks for after a crash. It can confirm where the accident happened, who was involved, what the responding officer saw, whether anyone reported injuries, and whether citations were issued.

The Law Office of John J. Sheehan helps injured people after serious crashes throughout Boston and Massachusetts. If you are trying to figure out how to get a copy of a car accident police report, our Boston car accident attorneys can review what happened and explain your next step.

Quick answer: If Boston Police responded to your crash, request the report from the Boston Police Department. If you need the statewide crash report record, request it through the Massachusetts RMV. If someone was hurt, killed, or property damage was more than $1,000, Massachusetts law may also require a written crash report.

Boston Car Accident Report Requests Start with the Right Agency

The correct request path depends on where the crash happened and which agency responded.

For crashes inside Boston, Boston Police may have the report. Your request should include:

• Crash date and time: Use the full date if possible.
• Crash location: Add the street, intersection, exit, or neighborhood.
• Names involved: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists.
• Your ID: Boston Police asks for ID verification.
• Report number: Include it if available.

Reports can also be requested in person at Boston Police Headquarters, Licensing Division / Public Service Unit 1st Floor, One Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120.

If the crash happened on a highway, ramp, or state-controlled road, the Massachusetts State Police may have handled it. When in doubt, call the police department for the city or town where the crash occurred and ask where the report was filed.

Crash Report Details That Help You Get the Right Copy

A request with missing details can slow the search. Before you submit it, gather:

• Driver and passenger names
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Insurance information
• Crash date, time, and location
• Officer name, if known
• Report number, if available

You do not need to be at fault to request the report. If you were involved as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle owner, or damaged-property owner, you may be able to get a copy.

Before sending the report to insurance, check the basics: your name, vehicle direction, injury notes, witness details, crash location, and the officer’s narrative.

Massachusetts Crash Report Rules, Filing Duties, and Costs

Massachusetts has two separate steps people often mix up: requesting the police crash report and filing a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 26, a driver must file a written report within five days if anyone is killed or injured, or if damage to any one vehicle or other property is more than $1,000.

Massachusetts also provides a motor vehicle crash reporting page with instructions on how to file. A copy generally goes to the RMV, the police department with jurisdiction over the crash location, and the driver’s insurance company.

For RMV police crash report requests, the state currently lists a $20 non-refundable search fee. Local police departments may have separate copy rules or fees.

Timing varies. Some local reports may be ready sooner. RMV requests often take longer. Serious injury crashes, hit-and-runs, fatal accidents, and multi-vehicle collisions may take additional time. Do not wait for the report before getting medical care. Delayed treatment can give the insurer a reason to question your injuries.

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Why the Police Report Matters in a Boston Injury Claim

A car accident police report can help connect the crash to your injury claim. Insurance adjusters review it for facts that affect fault, coverage, and damages.

A report may include:

• Crash date, time, and location
• Driver, passenger, and witness details
• Vehicle and insurance information
• Road and weather conditions
• Officer narrative and diagram
• Vehicle damage notes
• Injury notes
• Citations or traffic violations
• Tow or ambulance details

The report can support liability, injury timing, witness follow-up, insurance coverage, and consistency of any damage.

Still, it is only one piece of the claim. Photos, medical records, repair estimates, proof of lost wages, dashcam footage, 911 records, and witness statements may also matter.

Delayed, Missing, or Incorrect Police Reports

Police reports are not always ready right away. A delay may mean the report is still under review, being completed, or tied to a deeper investigation.

If the report cannot be found:

• Contact the police department where the crash happened.
• Ask whether Boston Police, State Police, or another agency responded.
• Confirm whether the report was filed with the RMV.
• Check that the date, location, and names are correct.
• Keep copies of every request and response.

If the police did not arrive at the scene, the claim is not automatically lost. File the required Massachusetts crash report if the injury, death, or damage threshold applies. Save photos, medical records, repair estimates, insurance details, and witness information.

Common report problems include:

• Wrong crash location
• Missing injury note
• Missing passenger or witness
• Incorrect vehicle direction
• Wrong insurance company
• Incomplete driver statement
• A diagram that does not match the scene

If the mistake affects fault, injury, insurance coverage, or witness details, ask the issuing agency about a correction or supplemental report after a Massachusetts car accident.

Photos, medical records, witness statements, dashcam footage, repair records, and 911 records can help support a correction.

After the Report Arrives, Protect the Claim

Getting the report is only the first step. After you receive it:

• Review every detail before sending it to the insurance company.
• Get medical care and follow the treatment plan.
• Save photos of the vehicles, scene, and injuries.
• Keep repair estimates and medical bills.
• Track missed work and lost income.
• Avoid recorded statements until you know your rights.
• Ask a lawyer to review the report if you were hurt.

Massachusetts personal injury lawsuits are generally subject to a three-year deadline under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2A, unless an exception applies. Do not wait for the report to be perfect. Evidence can disappear while the paperwork is still pending.

Don’t Let the Insurance Company Control the Story

The report starts the story. The medical records, missed wages, vehicle damage, and future care prove what the crash cost you.

The Law Office of John J. Sheehan helps injured people after car accidents in Boston and across Massachusetts. If you already have the report, bring it. If you do not have it yet, the firm can help you find it, review it, and use it properly. Contact us today for a free consultation.